U.S. patent application number 15/738767 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-28 for food product package.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAGIC PRODUCTION GROUP (M.P.G.) S.A.. The applicant listed for this patent is MAGIC PRODUCTION GROUP (M.P.G.) S.A.. Invention is credited to Enrico PAVESI, Paolo VACCARELLA.
Application Number | 20180177208 15/738767 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54347629 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180177208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VACCARELLA; Paolo ; et
al. |
June 28, 2018 |
FOOD PRODUCT PACKAGE
Abstract
Package for a food product comprising an openable container (1)
of non-edible material, including in its interior an accessory
which is formed by a first (2) and a second (4) half-shell,
connected together by mutual engagement means (6), and a single
half-shell of edible material (8) or a plurality of half-shells of
edible material provided that they are overlapping, associated with
only one (2) of the half-shells of said container, the inner
surface (20) of said half-shell (8) of edible material or of the
innermost of said half-shells of edible material being of a shape
substantially corresponding to the outer surface (24) of the
half-shell (2) of non-edible material associated therewith,
characterized in that the outer surface (30) of said half-shell of
edible material (8) and the outer surface of the other half-shell
(4) of the container jointly form a symmetrical body with respect
to the coupling plane of the respective half-shells, or a
symmetrical body with respect to a plane of symmetry of said body
perpendicular to the coupling plane.
Inventors: |
VACCARELLA; Paolo;
(BALDISSERO TORINESE, IT) ; PAVESI; Enrico; (ALBA,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAGIC PRODUCTION GROUP (M.P.G.) S.A. |
FINDEL |
|
LU |
|
|
Assignee: |
MAGIC PRODUCTION GROUP (M.P.G.)
S.A.
FINDEL
LU
|
Family ID: |
54347629 |
Appl. No.: |
15/738767 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
June 30, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2016/053927 |
371 Date: |
December 21, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23V 2002/00 20130101;
A23G 1/545 20130101; B65D 85/60 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A23G 1/54 20060101
A23G001/54; B65D 85/60 20060101 B65D085/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2015 |
IT |
102015000029139 |
Claims
1. Food product package comprising an openable container (1),
including in its interior an accessory, formed by a first (2) and a
second (4) half-shell of non-edible material, connected together by
mutual engagement means (6) and a single half-shell of edible
material (8) or a plurality of half-shells of edible material
provided that they are overlapping, associated with only one (2) of
the half-shells of said container, the inner surface (20) of said
half-shell (8) of edible material or of the innermost of said
half-shells of edible material being of a shape substantially
corresponding to the outer surface (24) of the half-shell (2) of
non-edible material associated therewith, characterized in that the
outer surface (30) of said half-shell of edible material (8) and
the outer surface of the other half-shell (4) of the container
jointly form a symmetrical body with respect to the coupling plane
of the respective half-shells, or a symmetrical body with respect
to a plane of symmetry of said body perpendicular to the coupling
plane.
2. Food product package according to claim 1, characterized in that
said engagement means comprise a U-shaped upturned terminal portion
(10) of the wall of the half-shell of non-edible material (2), with
which the half-shell (8) of edible material is to be associated,
and a terminal portion (14) of the other half-shell (4) of
non-edible material.
3. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that said
U-shaped upturned terminal portion (10) has a substantially flat
flange (12) projecting outwards, and said terminal portion (14) of
the wall of the other half-shell (4) has a substantially flat
flange (16) projecting outwards, said flanges (12, 16) being in an
overlapping relationship in the engaged condition of said
engagement means (6).
4. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that said
half-shell or half-shells (8) of edible material, in the assembled
configuration of the packaging, has an annular mouth edge (26)
bearing against said flange (12) of said upturned wall portion (10)
of the half-shell of non-edible material (2) with which it is
associated.
5. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that said
half-shell or said plurality of half-shells (8) of edible material
has a total wall thickness such that said symmetrical body is
formed.
6. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that said
container comprises a first half-shell (2) of non-edible material,
having a concave wall (48) surrounded by a substantially flat
flange (56) from which an end wall portion extends in the form of a
collar (58), and a second half-shell (4) of non-edible material,
having a concave wall (50) in whose end portion (60) said wall
portion in the form of a collar (58) of the other half-shell (2) is
adapted to engage, said engagement means (6) comprising said wall
portion in the form of a collar (58) and said end portion (60),
wherein the half-shell of edible material (8) is in a position in
which it bears against said flange (56).
7. Package according to claim 6, characterized in that said
engagement means (6) further comprise complementary formations (62,
64), formed in said wall portion in the form of a collar (58) and
in said end portion (60), said formations being capable of
engagement by form fit or snap action.
8. Package according to claim 6, characterized in that said
half-shell of edible material (8) has a thickness substantially
equal to the sum of the width of said flange (56) and of the
annular mouth edge (66) of said wall (50) of the other half-shell
(4).
9. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that said first
(2) and second (4) half-shells of edible material are connected to
each other by articulation means (52) integral with said
half-shells.
10. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that said first
(2) and second (4) half-shells are connected to each other by
articulation means (52) integral with said half-shells and
comprising a film hinge connecting facing portions of said flanges
(12, 16).
11. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that said first
(2) and second (4) half-shell of non-edible material are connected
to each other by articulation means (52) integral with said
half-shells and comprising a film hinge (54) connecting facing
portions of the annular mouth edge (66) of one of said half-shells
and of said flange (56) of the other half-shell.
12. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that it further
comprises an outer wrapping of sheet material formed by a first
half-shell of sheet material (36) defining a cavity substantially
complementary to the outer surface (30) of the half-shell(s) of
edible material (8) and a second half-shell of sheet material (34)
defining a cavity substantially complementary to the outer surface
(28) of the half-shell of non-edible material with which the
half-shell of edible material (8) is not associated, said first and
second half-shells of sheet material being connected to each other
along their respective edges so as to form a closed wrapping.
13. Package according to claim 12, characterized in that said first
(36) and second (34) half-shell of sheet material have a peripheral
end wall portion (40b, 40a) in the form of a flange, wherein said
peripheral portions are interconnected by gluing, welding, bending
and/or crimping, or by a combination of gluing or welding with
bending and/or crimping.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a package for a food
product of the type comprising an openable container, usually made
of plastic material, intended to contain within it an accessory
which is a surprise for the consumer, the container being
associated with an edible part, particularly a shell of chocolate
or the like.
[0002] Currently marketed products each comprise two chocolate
half-shells, usually welded to each other along the respective
facing mouth edges, between which a container of plastic material
is interposed; the two half-shells of edible material are packaged
in a wrapping of sheet material adhering to the outer surface of
the product.
[0003] EP 2 252 528 B1 describes a solution in which, to facilitate
the opening of the package to access the surprise container, the
ovoidal chocolate body is packaged in two flanged half-shells of
sheet material which are coupled to each other by the bending and
crimping of the flange edges and in which the plane of separation
of the chocolate half-shells coincides with the plane of the
flanges.
[0004] The present invention tackles the problem of providing a
package which, after the removal of its packaging wrapping, enables
the consumer to have an immediate visual perception of the presence
of the container.
[0005] A solution to this problem is described in EP 0 951 835 A
and EP 1 018 302 A. In the packages described in these documents,
the container is equipped with a rib against which bear the mouth
edges of two chocolate half-shells which jointly form an ovoidal
body which is substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane
of said rib, which is visible from the outside after the removal of
the wrapping sheet; however, the visibility of the container is
rather reduced, being limited to the thickness of the rib.
[0006] The present invention provides an alternative solution which
provides ample visibility of the non-edible part of the package and
simultaneously enables a product to be made which maintains the
typical aesthetic characteristics of this type of product, combined
with adequate support and protection for the edible part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Thus one object of the invention is a package for a food
product having the characteristics defined in the claims below,
which form an integral part of the present description.
[0008] Further characteristics and advantages of the package
proposed by the invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description, which refers to the attached drawings,
relating to the embodiment which is commonly used, but is not
essential and does not limit the scope of the invention, in which
the product has an ovoidal configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the attached drawings,
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a package
according to a first embodiment of the invention, in which the
container can be produced by thermoforming;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the package of FIG. 1
without the packaging wrapping;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a detail, indicated by I in
FIG. 2, in which the half-shells forming the container are in a
relationship of mutual engagement;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second
embodiment of a package according to the invention, without the
wrapping, in which the container can again be produced by
thermoforming;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a package of the type of
FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment
of a package according to the invention, without the packaging
wrapping, in which the container can be produced by injection
moulding;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a package of the type of
FIG. 6, and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the
package according to the invention, without the wrapping.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The term "package" as used in the present description
denotes an assembly comprising edible and non-edible parts, joined
together to form an independent article.
[0019] With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5 refer to
embodiments in which the container can be made by thermoforming
from a sheet of plastic material. The package comprises a container
1, typically of plastic material, formed by a first and a second
half-shell 2, 4, the mouth profiles of which have mutual engagement
means, indicated as a whole by 6, capable of keeping the mouths of
the half-shells in a facing relationship. An inner volume intended
to receive an accessory or a small toy is formed between the two
half-shells.
[0020] The container is typically made of plastic material suitable
for contact with food, such as polypropylene or propylene-ethylene
copolymer, and may be made of opaque or possibly transparent
plastic material, if it is desirable for the accessory contained in
it to be made visible.
[0021] Only one of the half-shells of the container, namely the
half-shell indicated by 2 in the drawings, is associated with a
half-shell 8 of edible material, typically made of chocolate. This
may be a single half-shell, possibly formed by two or more distinct
layers, such as a layer of milk chocolate and a layer of milk cream
(see, for example, the embodiment in FIG. 8, in which the
half-shell of edible material comprises an outer layer 8a
(typically made of milk chocolate) and an inner layer 8b (milk
cream)), or by two or more separate and distinct half-shells,
provided that they are superimposed or can be superimposed on one
another, that is to say with the outer surface of the inner
half-shell complementary to and in contact with the inner surface
of the outer half-shell of the package.
[0022] The inner surface of the half-shell 8 of edible material
(or, in the case of two or more half-shells 8, the inner surface of
the innermost of these half-shells) preferably has a shape
substantially corresponding or complementary to the outer surface
of the half-shell 2 of non-edible material with which it is
associated.
[0023] The terms "corresponding" or "complementary" are to be
interpreted as referring to the fact that the inner surface of the
half-shell of edible material 8 and the outer surface of the
container 1 which supports it have the same geometric shape and
generally the same dimensions, so that, when the half-shell of
edible material is associated with the half-shell of non-edible
material, these surfaces are in contact with each other; the terms
also refer to the case in which, although these surfaces have the
same geometric shape, the inner of the two is of smaller size (or
is dimensioned on a smaller scale than the first) so that a gap of
substantially constant depth is formed between the two half-shells.
This definition is also to be interpreted as including the case in
which the outer surface of the half-shell of edible material 8 has
a plurality of protruding ribs extending into said gap, where the
upper edge of said ribs is in contact with, and supports, the inner
surface of the edible half-shell.
[0024] The outer surface of the half-shell 8 of edible material,
which is in contact with or supported by the outer surface of one
of the two half-shells forming the container, forms, together with
the other of the two half-shells of the container, a symmetrical
body, preferably an ovoidal body with rotational symmetry (but with
allowance for minor deviations from rotational symmetry due to any
flaring which may be necessary for the extraction of the
half-shells from the corresponding manufacturing mould).
[0025] This body may be symmetrical with respect to the coupling
plane of the two half-shells forming the container (which may be
the plane in which the mouth profile of one or both of the
half-shells lies) or with respect to a plane parallel to said
coupling plane, or may be symmetrical with respect to an axis
perpendicular to said coupling plane, or, in particular, in the
case of a generally ovoidal configuration, symmetrical with respect
to a plane passing through the longitudinal major axis of said
ovoidal body.
[0026] With reference to the shape and structure of the container
1, in the preferred embodiment the two half-shells of non-edible
material have a semi-ovoidal configuration, with an ovoidal mouth
profile. As can be seen in FIG. 2 and in the detail of FIG. 3, the
engagement means 6 between the half-shells of non-edible material
comprise a U-shaped upturned terminal portion 10 of the wall of the
half-shell of non-edible material 2, with which the half-shell 8 of
edible material is to be associated. This upturned wall portion
preferably terminates in a substantially flat flange 12, protruding
outwards and spaced apart from (placed below) the plane in which
the mouth contour of said half-shell 2 lies. The aforesaid
engagement means 6 also comprise a terminal portion 14 of the other
half-shell 4, which terminates in a substantially flat, outwardly
protruding flange 16. The aforesaid terminal wall portion 14 is
cylindrical or curved, and is delimited by a shoulder 18 (although
this is optional) having a height practically equal to the height
of the upturned wall portion 10 of the other half-shell. Thus, in
the closed assembled position of the container, the upturned
portion 10 is fitted inside the wall portion 14 of the other
half-shell, with the flanges 12 and 16 superimposed on each
other.
[0027] However, the invention is not to be understood as being
limited to the specific engagement means described here.
[0028] Because of this shaping, the container 1, in the
configuration of engagement of its two constituent half-shells, has
a body which is generally ovoidal, but non-symmetrical with respect
to the coupling plane of the two half-shells, defined as the
contact plane between the flanges 12 and 16.
[0029] In particular, the concave wall 48 of the half-shell 2 has a
semi-ovoidal shape, homologous with the semi-ovoidal shape of the
concave wall 50 of the other half-shell 4, but with a mouth
contour, defined by the annular edge of the terminal portion 44 of
the concave wall 48, smaller than the mouth contour of the wall 50
of the other half-shell 4. The aforesaid mouth contour, defined by
the annular edge of the terminal portion 44 of the wall 48, extends
parallel to (that is to say, substantially equidistant from) the
mouth contour of the wall 50.
[0030] The half-shell 8 of edible material (possibly formed by two
or more superimposed half-shells, as mentioned above) has a
semi-ovoidal wall 22 whose inner surface 20, as mentioned,
preferably has a shape corresponding to the outer surface 24 of the
half-shell of non-edible material 2.
[0031] In the assembled configuration of the package, the annular
mouth edge 26 of the half-shell 8 bears against the flange 12 or
against a portion of said flange, or, possibly, is inserted into
the groove 42 formed by the upturned wall 10 and the terminal
portion 44 of the wall of the half-shell 2.
[0032] The total wall thickness of the half-shell of edible
material 8 (or of a plurality of superimposed half-shells) is such
that the outer surface 28 of the half-shell 4 of the container and
the outer surface 30 of the half-shell 8 of edible material jointly
form an ovoidal body which is symmetrical with respect to the
coupling plane of these half-shells, which in the present case is
defined by the plane of the flanges 12 and 16. The definition
"symmetrical body" is intended to signify that the aforesaid
surfaces 28 and 30 are theoretically connectable by an arc with an
ovoidal profile (with the possible exception of the wall portion
14).
[0033] The aforesaid ovoidal body, formed jointly by the half-shell
of edible material and one of the two half-shells of non-edible
material, may also be substantially symmetrical with respect to any
plane in which the longitudinal major axis of the ovoidal body
lies.
[0034] It is to be understood that, although the mouth edges of the
two half-shells of non-edible material have an ovoidal
configuration in the illustrated configuration, the invention is
also applicable to the case in which one of the two half-shells
forms the pointed end of the ovoidal body and the other forms the
rounded base part, and in which the mutually facing annular mouth
edges therefore have a circular annular, or possibly elliptical,
configuration. In this case also, the single half-shell of edible
material (possibly formed by two or more half-shells that can be
superimposed) can be coupled to one of the half-shells of
non-edible material, namely to the half-shell of non-edible
material that has engagement means of the male type; that is to
say, in the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the half-shell 2 with the
upturned terminal wall; in this case, the outer surface of the
half-shell of edible material forms, together with the outer
surface of the half-shell of non-edible material, carrying the
female engagement means, an ovoidal body which is symmetrical with
respect to a plane of symmetry which, in this case, is
perpendicular to the plane of the flanges.
[0035] FIGS. 4 and 5, in which parts or elements corresponding to
those of FIGS. 1 and 3 are indicated by the same reference
numerals, show an embodiment in which the two half-shells 2 and 4,
which form the container and can also be produced by thermoforming,
are connected to each other by hinge means, indicated as a whole by
52, these means being integral with, that is to say made in one
piece with, the two half-shells of non-edible material 2 and 4. In
this particular example, the hinge means 52 comprise a film hinge
54 which connects mutually facing portions of the flanges 12 and
16.
[0036] FIGS. 6 and 7 refer to a package in which the container of
non-edible material can be made by injection moulding, and which
differs from the previously illustrated packages mainly in respect
of the formation of the engagement means between the two
half-shells.
[0037] In these figures also, parts or elements corresponding to
those of FIGS. 1 and 5 are indicated by the same reference
numerals.
[0038] In this example, the half-shell 2 of non-edible material,
which supports the half-shell 8 of edible material, has a concave
wall 48 surrounded by a substantially flat flange 56, extending
outwards, from the end of which there extends a wall portion 58 in
the form of a collar. The other half-shell 4 of non-edible material
has a concave wall 50 in whose end portion 60 said wall portion in
the form of a collar 58 of the half-shell 2 is adapted to engage;
the engagement means between the two half-shells therefore comprise
said wall portion in the form of a collar 58 and said end portion
60. The aforesaid wall portions may also comprise complementary
formations 62 and 64 which can engage with each other by form fit
or snap action.
[0039] The half-shell of edible material 8 is in a position in
which it bears against the flange 56 and against the annular mouth
edge 66 of the half-shell 4, and has a thickness substantially
equal to the sum of the width of said flange 56 and of the annular
mouth edge 66 of the half-shell 4. In this case also, the body
formed by the half-shell of edible material 8 and by the half-shell
of non-edible material 4 is substantially symmetrical with respect
to the coupling plane between said half-shells.
[0040] In this case also, the half-shells 2 and 4 may be
interconnected by hinge means 52, in particular by means of a film
hinge 54 which connects facing portions of the annular mouth edge
66 of the half-shell 4 and of the flange 56 of the other half-shell
2.
[0041] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the package has a
symmetrical configuration with respect to a plane passing through
the longitudinal major axis of the ovoidal shape. In this
embodiment, the container of non-edible material is formed by the
half-shells 2a and 4a, where the half-shell 2a is the tapered or
pointed part and the half-shell 4a is the rounded part.
[0042] The half-shell 2a has a terminal cylindrical collar 70 that
can engage in the terminal portion (adjacent to the mouth) 72 of
the half-shell 4a.
[0043] The half-shell 2a has an annular surface 72 which, in the
position of engagement of the half-shell 2a with the half-shell 4a,
bears against the annular mouth edge 74 of the half-shell 4a.
[0044] The portion of edible material of this package comprises the
half-shell 8, which in the present case is formed by two
superimposed layers 8a (milk chocolate) and 8b (milk cream, for
example); the annular mouth edge 74 of the half-shell 8 bears
against the annular mouth surface 76 of the half-shell 4a. The
inner surface of the half-shell 8 preferably has a shape
corresponding (in the sense stated above) to that of the pointed
outer surface 78 of the half-shell 2a, and these surfaces are
preferably in contact with each other. However, it is also possible
to have a configuration in which a gap of substantially constant
depth is present between the inner surface of the half-shell 8 and
the outer surface of the half-shell 2a (see, for example, FIG. 8,
in which the layer indicated by 8b is not present). In this gap
there may be spacer ribs, spaced apart angularly (not shown in FIG.
8), which extend between the apex of the pointed end to a point
adjacent to or corresponding to the shoulder 80 of the half-shell
2a; the number of these ribs, which have a spacing and engagement
function, may be from 2 to 8, for example.
[0045] Again with reference to the previously illustrated
configurations, the half-shell 4 of non-edible material and the
half-shell 8 of edible material are housed in a respective shaped
wrapping of sheet material 34, 36, which may be made by using a
foil or film of metal, particularly aluminium, or may be formed by
joining a metal film to a polymer film, or by using a metal foil or
film coated with a heat-sealable lacquer.
[0046] Typically, the foils or films used have a thickness of 6
.mu.m to 40 .mu.m, or preferably 8 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m, for example
12 .mu.m. Each wrapping 34 and 36 has a hollow receiving portion
38a, 38b shaped in a substantially corresponding or complementary
manner to the outer surface of the respective half-shell of edible
material 4 and of non-edible material 8, so as to adhere to this
surface, and a peripheral portion 40a and 40b in the form of a
flange. The wrappings 34 and 36 are initially associated with the
respective half-shell with the flanges 40a, 40b in a superimposed
relationship; these flanges are then coupled to one another by
bending and/or crimping, thereby forming a disengageable connection
between the two wrappings.
[0047] Alternatively, the peripheral flange-shaped portions may be
interconnected by gluing or welding, which may be performed by
providing a heat-sealable lacquer on the facing peripheral
surfaces.
[0048] After welding, these peripheral portions welded together can
be bent back on to themselves and, if necessary, crimped against
the outer wall of one of the two wrappings.
[0049] In this embodiment, it is preferable for the welding area
for providing a hermetic closure of the package, to be provided in
a terminal region of the superimposed flange-shaped peripheral
portions 40a and 40b, or at least in a region spaced apart from the
receiving portion, and for the bending of the flange, in a
orthogonal or inclined direction relative to the plane of the
superimposed flanges, to be performed along a bending line which
does not pass through the welding area, so that this welding area
is present in a distal region of the two bent flanges, to avoid
damage to the chocolate by the heat emitted from the welding tool.
It is to be understood that the aforesaid flange-shaped peripheral
portions 40a and 40b, after being bent and crimped, also extend to
cover the flanges 12 and 16 of the two half-shells 2 and 4 of
non-edible material.
[0050] In all the previously illustrated embodiments, it is
preferable in all cases for the wrappings of sheet material 34 and
36 to be shaped with an ovoidal mouth profile (see FIG. 1), making
it possible to use a pair of shaped wrappings 34 and 36 which are
substantially identical to each other, connected to each other by
means of the respective flange-shaped peripheral portions, in a
median or equatorial plane of the package.
[0051] Thus, because of the illustrated characteristics, the
invention provides a package in which the container of non-edible
material is immediately visible after the removal of the wrapping,
and has a configuration which is preferably generally ovoidal, but
in any case substantially symmetrical (in the sense indicated
above), that is to say a configuration in which the outer surfaces
can be joined in a generally ovoidal configuration substantially
free of steps.
[0052] Clearly, provided that the principle of the invention is
retained, the forms of application and the details of
implementation can be varied widely from what has been described
and illustrated, without departure from the scope of the claims
attached below. In particular, the engagement means between the two
half-shells forming the container may be formed according to
variants of construction known to those skilled in the art; the
constructive principle of the package is also applicable to the
forming of a package in which one of the two half-shells of the
container and the half-shell of edible material jointly form a
symmetrical body, in the sense indicated above, which is not
necessarily strictly ovoidal.
* * * * *